The same was true in 1925, when groundwork was laid for what would become the most iconic of the three Tulane football stadiums — the one that eventually hosted college bowl games and NFL contests.

In June 1925, university officials estimated that a stadium large and sturdy enough for the swelling football crowds would cost $250,000 (nearly $3.3 million in today's dollars). They anticipated that the Green Wave's undefeated 1925 season would heighten local interest. The university was unable to come up with the money, so New Orleans residents, media and social organizations launched an effort to generate the funds. It seemed the entire Crescent City was behind the push to raise $300,000 for what was hoped to be a 42,000-seat stadium. Local boosters generated nearly $44,000 in pledges the first day.

On Dec. 7, 1925, fundraising organizer J. Blanc Monroe announced the $300,000 had been raised. The stadium opened Oct. 23, 1926. The day was declared a holiday in the city, and a parade marched past City Hall. The day also saw Auburn defeat Tulane 2-0.

Bounded by Willow and Calhoun streets, Audubon Boulevard and South Claiborne Avenue, the new facility seated 35,000 fans.

Last edited by tpstulane on Thu May 30, 2013 7:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

Came across this photo from one of my customers the other day and I thought I'd share. Aerial photo taken in 1927, by photographer Charles L. Franck. Photo is in the Historic New Orleans Collection. At the very top center you can see the newly built Tulane Stadium. In the center is the field where Tulane played prior to building the stadium. The concrete stands in the left corner of the field were still there when I was in school in the 1970's. In front of that is Loyola's football stadium. Prior to us building Tulane Stadium, looks like their stadium was bigger than ours.

Another thing to note is that where Fogelman Arena is now, there were open air basketball courts, which I never knew before. I've also posted the link to the HNOC site so you can see the image larger.

RobertM320 wrote:Came across this photo from one of my customers the other day and I thought I'd share. Aerial photo taken in 1927, by photographer Charles L. Franck. Photo is in the Historic New Orleans Collection. At the very top center you can see the newly built Tulane Stadium. In the center is the field where Tulane played prior to building the stadium. The concrete stands in the left corner of the field were still there when I was in school in the 1970's. In front of that is Loyola's football stadium. Prior to us building Tulane Stadium, looks like their stadium was bigger than ours.

Another thing to note is that where Fogelman Arena is now, there were open air basketball courts, which I never knew before. I've also posted the link to the HNOC site so you can see the image larger.

Great find! I've never seen this angle before. As a kid I remember going with my dad to Buc's, Wolfpack and Green Wave basketball games he would always park on the site of the original stadium. They put rocks down and made it a parking lot but left the original walls up as you said. I remember well my dad telling me that was where the first stadium was constructed. Thanks for bringing back that great memory. If you remember the old ROTC building the 1st stadium was right behind that off of Freret St.

golfnut69 wrote:Isnt the Riley center on the site of the North end zone stands ?

That would be Sugar Bowl Tulane stadium which was the one built between Willow and Claiborne. The 1st (original) that's pictured in the middle was located between Freret and Willow. Right on the site of AB Freeman Business School today.

golfnut69 wrote:Isnt the Riley center on the site of the North end zone stands ?

That would be Sugar Bowl Tulane stadium which was the one was built between Willow and Claiborne. The 1st (original) that's pictured in the middle was located between Freret and Willow. Right on the site of AB Freeman Business School today.

When I was at Tulane, the remnants of the first stadium were seen opposite the dorm named Monroe. I believe it housed the ROTC facility and the theater used for Theater Arts classes. This was in the early 80's (I'm class of '85).

" For every alum, no matter where they are...I want a football coach that's going to make Saturday something you anticipate and look forward to." --Troy Dannen

Thank you all for your support as my son Zach continues to beat leukemia

golfnut69 wrote:Isnt the Riley center on the site of the North end zone stands ?

That would be Sugar Bowl Tulane stadium which was the one was built between Willow and Claiborne. The 1st (original) that's pictured in the middle was located between Freret and Willow. Right on the site of AB Freeman Business School today.

When I was at Tulane, the remnants of the first stadium were seen opposite the dorm named Monroe. I believe it housed the ROTC facility and the theater used for Theater Arts classes. This was in the early 80's (I'm class of '85).

That's true. I'm class of '80, and I know the set of stands was still there. I remember going over there to look at it a couple of times and trying to imagine some of the early Tulane greats playing on that field.

RobertM320 wrote:Came across this photo from one of my customers the other day and I thought I'd share. Aerial photo taken in 1927, by photographer Charles L. Franck. Photo is in the Historic New Orleans Collection. At the very top center you can see the newly built Tulane Stadium. In the center is the field where Tulane played prior to building the stadium. The concrete stands in the left corner of the field were still there when I was in school in the 1970's. In front of that is Loyola's football stadium. Prior to us building Tulane Stadium, looks like their stadium was bigger than ours.

Another thing to note is that where Fogelman Arena is now, there were open air basketball courts, which I never knew before. I've also posted the link to the HNOC site so you can see the image larger.

These photos are amazing. It looks so foreign with no Fogelman, LBC, Freeman, or TLS. With 3 football fields, I doubt anyone was in the NIMBY crowd (even though the fields came before most houses)... Oh how the times have changed.

Look at the upper deck on the left hand side of Loyola's stadium. That's exactly what I'd project to see built above the west side stands. If it's steep enough, and has the same footprint as the press box, it would only have to be about 10-15 feet higher than the current structure on the west side. It would put most of the existing seats on that side in its shadow as well.

EFF the NIMBY's, let's add 10k seats with an upper deck on the west side. Tell them to make money selling parking in their yards, like the old days.

" For every alum, no matter where they are...I want a football coach that's going to make Saturday something you anticipate and look forward to." --Troy Dannen

Thank you all for your support as my son Zach continues to beat leukemia

I love the small details you can see when you zoom in. Freret street passes right between the two stadiums. On Loyola's side by Freret, it looks like that small building could be a locker room of sorts for the teams. The building that the scoreboard and clock is on. Also, you can see the entrance gates to Loyola's field from Freret street. As for Tulane, maybe those structures on the east side of the stadium? Sort of looks like an open air covering as a place to get out of the heat and/or rain during halftime.

DfromCT wrote:Look at the upper deck on the left hand side of Loyola's stadium. That's exactly what I'd project to see built above the west side stands. If it's steep enough, and has the same footprint as the press box, it would only have to be about 10-15 feet higher than the current structure on the west side. It would put most of the existing seats on that side in its shadow as well.

EFF the NIMBY's, let's add 10k seats with an upper deck on the west side. Tell them to make money selling parking in their yards, like the old days.

DfromCT wrote:Look at the upper deck on the left hand side of Loyola's stadium. That's exactly what I'd project to see built above the west side stands. If it's steep enough, and has the same footprint as the press box, it would only have to be about 10-15 feet higher than the current structure on the west side. It would put most of the existing seats on that side in its shadow as well.

EFF the NIMBY's, let's add 10k seats with an upper deck on the west side. Tell them to make money selling parking in their yards, like the old days.

Realistically that addition will likely max out at 5,000 seats.

D- it looks like 5,000 may be pushing it. Here is LSU Law Greenies post about counting the seats:

So I was curious how many actual seats are in Yulman Stadium so I took the time to add it up and here goes...

The upper deck (Westfeltd) has 3,027
The bottom deck of the home side (Home side under Westfeltd) has 3,307
The rest of the stadium from student section to family section has 16,326.